When it comes to fitness, doing the same workout over and over again is not only boring, it may even lead to burnout. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to avoid this common trap by setting new goals and challenging yourself to new things. Here's some great inspiration from top trainers on how you can switch things up in your fitness routine in 2013:

“This year I’m mixing up my workouts by integrating new fitness classes into my weekly workout routine. From Pure Barre to SurfSET Fitness classes, it’s been fun to add more variety to my fitness routine and challenge my body in ways that are very different from how I normally tend to train. I’ve also just made the switch over to new running shoes (specifically Nike Flex Running Shoes), opting for a lighter, more flexible shoe that gives more of a barefoot-like feel while still providing some cushioning and support. One of my goals this year is to run a half-marathon to help raise money for a good cause, and now that I’ve settled on the event that I’m doing (Rock n Roll half marathon in June!) it’s important that I have the right footwear to start training!”

“I'd say one of the things I am doing different lately is really letting my body dictate the style and intensity level that I choose for my workouts that day. Instead of planning out a week's worth of workouts and forcing myself to stick to that schedule, I simply check in with my body to see what is best for me in that particular moment. On the days I feel really energetic, I'll push myself with some HIIT or heavier weight training, on days when my energy feels lower, I'll do something more gentle like walking, or a fusion of different styles like dance, yoga or Pilates. Overall, its helped me feel better and more balanced with my energy, stress levels and I never, ever dread a workout.”

“Contrasting 1 day high-intensity full-body resistance training with a day of moderate intensity aerobic intervals on/in the water (either swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking). On days where I can't get to the water I go to a local hill and do combinations of walking, jogging, and skipping drills up the side of the hill mountain.”

Keli Roberts, ACE-CPT, ACE-GFI, 2003 IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the Year

“My personal workouts: Road ride climbs, such as Angeles Crest Highway or a bunch of climbs above the Rose Bowl. Flat fast group rides to keep my bike handling skills sharp and improve my power output over long hard intervals. Mountain bike rides, since I'll be doing some MTB rides I need to keep my skills sharp. Off the bike? Stretching, core training. I get a lot of power endurance training in my classes since I'm teaching HIIT classes twice/three times a week.”

“I have embraced the use of a heart rate monitor to be more objective in all my workouts. This has helped me gauge when I need to work harder beyond perceived exertion and be dedicated to an effective cool down period.”

“I’ve been playing with barbell complexes – doing a series of barbell exercises one right after the other. For example: Romanian deadlifts to bent-over rows to front squats to push presses; 10 reps of each exercise with no rest in between a great way to jack up the heart rate while improving strength.”

“The main thing I try to do now is mix it up! The only real consistency I have in my program is a regular yoga practice. Otherwise, I look to have one to two days of HIIT training, 2 days of variable intensity below AT threshold training, and 1 to 2 days of steady state training.”

“This year I'm planning to change up my strength training a bit so that my routine is more dynamic. This will involve mixing light/heavy weights, using TRX, resistance bands, new machines and a variety of other equipment to keep my muscles guessing. I'm also planning to try new fitness classes around town this year so I can stay on top of the latest trends. Plus, it will be a good way for me to cross-train!”

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